info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Divided Shawnee County Commission OKs comprehensive land use plan

info2018-10-16T06:56:00-05:00October 16th, 2018|

After more than two years of discussion, the Shawnee County Commission voted 2-1 Monday to approve the county’s first-ever comprehensive land use plan. Commissioners Kevin Cook and Shelly Buhler voted in favor of the nearly 200-page plan, which will guide decision-making about the physical development of the county’s unincorporated areas for 20 years while serving as a blueprint for future growth and the preservation of agricultural land. Cook described the plan as being a “compromise” between various interests. Commissioner Bob Archer dissented, saying the plan had little or no public support and he didn’t trust much of the data it contained. [...]

Barton County continues to formulate plan for needed repairs to courthouse

info2018-10-16T06:51:23-05:00October 16th, 2018|

Barton County Officials know what the structural issues are with the courthouse, now they must finalize a game plan to take care of those issues. Last December, Barton County Commissioners authorized WDM Architects to perform a structural analysis of the 100-year old building which found the four outside corners separating from the center of the structure on the 4th floor. While monitoring is taking place, Hathcock says the plan is to re-seal the roof to keep moisture out of the building. After that the plan is to use strapping to shore up the integrity of the outside corners of the courthouse. [...]

Lawrence City Commission to consider initiating code changes for smaller homes, other affordable housing

info2018-10-16T06:48:29-05:00October 16th, 2018|

City planners could soon begin drafting changes to city code that would allow for more affordable housing options, including dividing existing residential lots to build smaller homes. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider initiating a city code amendment process for affordable housing, including a proposal to allow developers or nonprofits to build two smaller homes on a single lot as long as they are permanently designated as affordable housing. Read more: LJworld.com.

Jail time for owners whose dogs bark loudly? One Ohio city councilman thinks so

info2018-10-16T08:23:52-05:00October 16th, 2018|

The Akron City Council has scrapped legislation that could have imposed jail time on dog owners whose pets bark loudly. City Council on Monday voted to follow the recommendation of its Public Safety Committee to not approve legislation calling for the increased penalties. Councilman Russ Neal Jr.'s proposed legislation included increasing nuisance barking from a minor misdemeanor with a $100 maximum fine to a fourth-degree misdemeanor with a $250 maximum fine and up to 30 days in jail. Councilman Donnie Kammer says the citywide conversation about loud barking dogs will continue, but says he does not expect legislation coming back to [...]

New BravoTV series “Welcome to Waverly” brings “seven professionals from major metropolitan areas” and transports them to the small town of Waverly, Kansas, population 563

info2018-10-16T08:41:32-05:00October 16th, 2018|

Get ready to break out of your bubble. Bravo's new four-part event series, Welcome to Waverly, will open your eyes to new people and experiences when it premieres every night at 10/9c from Monday, October 22 through Thursday, October 25. Welcome to Waverly will explore a major issue facing the United States today: the country's divide among big cities vs. small towns and how to bridge that gap. How will this new series accomplish such a seemingly huge undertaking, you ask? Well, we're taking a diverse group of seven professionals from major metropolitan areas and transporting them to the small town [...]

Garden City responds warmly to documentary

info2018-10-16T08:27:25-05:00October 16th, 2018|

More than 120 people gathered in the Garden City High School auditorium Wednesday for the world premiere of “Strangers in Town,” a documentary about Garden City from out-of-town filmmakers, getting a taste of the layers of the area’s blend of cultures and getting a glimpse of their city as viewed from the outside. The documentary, created by co-directors Stephen Lerner and Reuben Aaronson and director of photography Jim Jewell, explored the immigrant experience in Garden City, from the diverse school district local children grew up in, to what the city, police department and other local entities did to offer support, to [...]

Lawrence city leaders plan to continue conversation about consolidation of city and county governments

info2018-10-16T06:48:43-05:00October 16th, 2018|

The city’s interest in consolidating city and county governments has created some tension between the two governing bodies, but Lawrence city commissioners plan to continue the conversation. Lawrence city commissioners raised the topic with Douglas County commissioners during a joint meeting last month, but county commissioners said they were not interested in the possibility and that they didn’t think county residents who live outside Lawrence would support it. City commissioners, though, would like the two governing bodies to have an informed conversation about the pros and cons of unification and how it might benefit all local taxpayers. Read more: LJworld.com.

City satisfies requirements for ADA compliance; File closed

info2018-10-15T07:27:56-05:00October 15th, 2018|

Independence Safety and Code Enforcement Director David Cowan has received official notification from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) acknowledging the city’s successful compliance with the department’s mandate for Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements. The original “Project Civic Access” (PCA) settlement agreement dated April 29, 2011, required a major city-wide improvement effort to improve accessibility to sidewalks, municipal buildings and facilities. With the help of grant funding and City of Independence investment, a multi-year phased project was implemented with ongoing progress reporting to the DOJ. The ADA projects to date total more than $3 million, and have included more than [...]

Salina to reconsider reprimand of former commissioner

info2018-10-15T07:26:37-05:00October 15th, 2018|

City commissioners also are scheduled to reconsider the 2017 sanction of former commissioner Jon Blanchard. According to meeting packet information, at the commission’s September 17, 2018, meeting, city staff was directed “to assemble a factual record of the ethics sanction given to former Commissioner Blanchard in 2017 and schedule a reconsideration of the sanction” for Monday’s meeting. On November 20, 2017, the city commission, by a 3-2 vote, approved reprimanding “Blanchard based on a violation to the City of Salina Ethics Section 4(e)(2),” according to the minutes from the November 20, 2017, meeting. At the time, Blanchard was accused of violating [...]

Dodge City Boot Hill Museum plans expansion project

info2018-10-15T07:23:47-05:00October 15th, 2018|

Groundbreaking for an expansion project at the Dodge City Boot Hill Museum is scheduled for Nov. 1. Plans are to construct a new 12,000-square-foot building to house nine new exhibits, a gift shop and a 3,000-square foot temporary exhibit hall. Daily gunfights, shows, and dinners will continue during the summer season as they have for more than 60 years. The museum expansion project will have an estimated cost of $5.5 million. STAR bond money will cover about 78 percent of the new building, leaving the museum to fund the rest. The museum has raised $1 million to fund most of the [...]

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